Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes is officially on the road to recovery after a devastating knee injury brought his 2025 NFL season to an early close.
The injury occurred during a Week 15 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, when Mahomes went down with significant damage to his left knee. Further evaluation confirmed torn ACL and LCL ligaments, immediately ruling him out for the remainder of the season and requiring surgical repair.
Mahomes underwent surgery earlier this week, marking the first major step in a lengthy rehabilitation process. The procedure was performed by Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys’ head physician and a highly respected orthopedic surgeon known for treating elite professional athletes.
While surgeries of this nature are increasingly common in the NFL, the recovery remains demanding and requires careful management.
As Mahomes begins his rehab, his family has leaned heavily on the support of the football community. His mother, Randi Mahomes, took to social media to publicly thank fans and supporters for the prayers and kind messages they’ve shared since the injury.
“Thank you all for the prayers and kind messages for Patrick. We truly appreciate every one of them,” Randi wrote.
In another message, she highlighted the strength of the Kansas City community and acknowledged how uplifting the support has been as her son starts his journey back to health.
A difficult end to a historic era
Before the injury, Mahomes was once again producing at a high level despite the Chiefs’ struggles. During the 2025 season, the two-time NFL MVP threw for 22 touchdowns and added five rushing scores, continuing to demonstrate his ability to impact games in multiple ways.
However, Kansas City failed to find its usual rhythm, and the loss to the Chargers officially eliminated the team from playoff contention.
This marked a rare and sobering moment for the franchise. For the first time since Mahomes became the starting quarterback, the Chiefs failed to qualify for the postseason. The setback followed an extraordinary stretch of success that included five Super Bowl appearances in six seasons, along with three championship victories under head coach Andy Reid.
Following the injury, Kansas City placed Mahomes on injured reserve, allowing him to focus fully on recovery without the pressure of returning this year.
Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder indicated that the expected recovery timeline is approximately nine months, though it could vary slightly depending on progress and response to rehabilitation.
Despite the disappointment of a lost season, there is optimism surrounding Mahomes‘ long-term outlook. Team officials believe he is on track to return at full strength for the 2026 NFL season.
With elite medical care, a strong support system, and his proven determination, Mahomes now turns his attention to healing, with the expectation that he will once again lead the Chiefs when he returns to the field.
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